By working constantly in spheres
of various socio economic causes like illiteracy, environment depletion,
pollution, unemployment and violence to mention a few, charitable organizations
traverse the length and breadth of the world of philanthropists by appealing to
them for funds.
As in other domains, fraudsters
exist in charity as well. When it comes to online charity donations, there have
been numerous instances with public trying to report a scammer after sensing
suspicious activities. Online charitable donations are preferred to offline
donations in view of the following:
- Online donations are safe and secure provided donors are diligent on their part
- Receipts are mailed instantly
- Ease of donating on the go. Advanced technology brings online donation apps on smart phones
- Credibility is ensured since most charities publicize their credit rating on their websites
- Charities extend options to report a scammer where their names have been misused
- Engaging to tool to attract the tech savvy youth
- Compelling visuals with multimedia effects are possible for effective appeal
- Recurring donors find it easy to donate at the click of a button
- Charities send their newsletters, disbursement summaries, impact assessments on digital media
- Worldwide outreach for the schemes of the charity is ensured
- Donor details are maintained in confidence and charities promise stringent action when donors report a scammer misusing their personal details
Despite the above advantages, it
cannot be said that online charity is scam proof. Scams are countless in the
charity domain ranging from big to small. It is unfortunate that donors may not
take the efforts to report a scammer.
- Scams involving misuse of charity
These are crimes of serious
nature where illegal and anti-social activities are undertaken while the charity
functions normally to the outside world. Under the guise of charity, various
illegitimate activities like money laundering, trafficking, narcotics and
terrorism are carried on. Public must take the moral responsibility to report a
scammer when they sense any suspicious activity in or around the registered
office of neighborhood charities.
- Virtual charities lacking physical existence
Anybody who has purchased a
domain name can impersonate and bring a virtual charity into existence. It
involves fictitiously written website content, artificial financial statements
and a little visual animation techniques to add to the flavor of deceit.
Gullible donors are taken for a ride and their hard earned money lands nowhere
near charity. Such people must report a scammer immediately, since most dubious
charities wind up mysteriously after skimming the cream of one or two rounds of
charity appeals. People should never donate on hyperlinks that are sent on
emails. They must satisfy themselves to the physical existence of the charity
by looking for mailing addresses or contact phone numbers.
- Property scams by charities
Many cases involving politicians
and wealthy business men holding acres of land and buildings under the blanket
of charity have been fought and won. The donations collected from
philanthropists finally end up increasing the property value of the so-called
beneficiaries who do a namesake disbursement of funds and inflate charitable
expenditure. Donors should come forward and should not think twice to report a
scammer to the government law enforcing agencies.
